Tag: garden

Are you scared of what chemicals lurk in commercial fertilizer or pesticides? No longer worrying about these toxic chemicals is just one of the many benefits of gardening organically. A lot of techniques for organic gardening actually don’t cost a lot of money. Read on to learn a few tips if you are thinking about growing your own organic garden.

Your children can help you with your garden. Children will benefit from the fresh air while bonding with you in your efforts to provide healthier food alternatives for them.

Water containing some aspirin helps your plants fight illness. Three aspirins per four gallons of water will help keep your plants healthy. Then spray your plants with this mixture to stave off diseases. Apply at three week intervals.

It is important to keep the temperature set between 65 and 75 degrees, if you wish to raise plants in the home. They need this type of warm temperature in order to grow. If you aren’t wanting your house to be this warm in the winter, you can use a heat lamp on the plants.

Preparing a plot for planting a perennial garden can be done quickly and without difficulty. Use a spade to dig into the turf, turn the turf over, then spread the area with approximately three inches of wood chips. You want to then give the area about a couple of weeks, then you want your new perennials planted by digging into it.

Keep your garden tools close at hand to make the most of your gardening time. Carry your tools in a bucket, or keep them in the pockets of a pair of rugged pants. Keep common tools such as your gloves or your pruning shears within reach so that you can quickly and easily maintain your garden whenever you need to.

You can use something like a laundry basket to gather all of your produce together when the time comes. A laundry basket will act as a strainer for your produce. When you put your produce in a basket, you can then rinse it off and let it strain any excess water through the laundry basket holes.

In your compost, use green and dried plants in equal parts. Add grass clippings, waste from fruits and vegetables, leaves, and weeds for the green materials in your compost pile. Paper and straw are dry plant materials. Charcoal, meat, ashes or other diseased plants should not be included in a compost pile.

For claiming your crops are credible and truly organic, get organic garden certified. This will increase your sales, and it will prove to your customers that they have quality products.

While gardening organically requires more work than gardening with the help of chemicals, the rewards are worth it. While chemical claims are wondrous, growing organically is a great reward to whomever eats your produce.

Putting the advice you just learned to use in your organic garden will help you realize several benefits, including having healthy plants and a reduction in toxins. When your garden is working with nature, you can also expect to see an increase in the amount of wildlife that inhabits your garden.…

Besides serving as a hobby, gardening can help you to save money, as well as, creating a more beautiful home. Whether you want to plant flowers, vegetables, fruits, or all three, there are definite benefits to starting a garden. Read this article for some tips on how to successfully maintain a garden and reap the benefits.

Make a handy twine dispenser from old clay pots. To always have gardening twine ready to use, take an old clay pot, and place it in your garden where you want your twine dispenser to be. Then place your ball of twine in it, and turn a second clay pot upside down. Thread the twine through the drainage hole of the upside down pot and place it on top of the bottom pot. You now have a handy dispenser!

When gardening, be sure to use proper posture. Don’t lift with your back, and try to bend at the knees instead of at the waist. Keep your back straight when bending over. This allows you to use stronger and more flexible muscle groups to lift, and also protects your spine.

There are natural steps you can take to keep garden pests at bay. Onions and marigolds can help to deter slugs. Wood ash around your tree will help you keep pests away as well. Using methods like these eliminates the need for chemical pesticides, which can be harsh or even harmful.

Don’t use broad-spectrum pesticides for your garden. These pesticides can also kill useful insects that eat your pests. Good bugs are often more sensitive to pesticides than their bad counterparts, so if the population of good bugs goes down, the pest problem can grow. This can lead to needing even more pesticides to eliminate the problem insects.

Water new plants daily or every other day. When you first start plants in new soil, you need to tend to them very carefully. Plants experience a shock when they are in a new environment. Making sure they have enough water will go far in giving them the best chance to thrive in your garden.

So you have finally decided you want to plant a garden. One of the first things you will want to do is to find out if you have good or bad soil. The only sure way you will know this is to have the soil tested. Many nurseries will test your soil for a nominal fee. Soil with poor health will produce yellow, sickly-looking plants. By having your soil tested, you will know if your soil needs nutrients added or if you need to make adjustments to the pH of the soil.

Make sure your garden will get sun before planting the seeds. Plants love the sun and will grow better when exposed to it. If it is not too much trouble, consider moving your garden to another area to get the maximum amount of sunshine. This way your plants will grow bigger.

While growing your own fruits and vegetables can save you money on produce and cut grocery costs, growing flowers can give you a sense of pride. Watching something grow when you have taken care to protect it, can make you feel useful. Remember the tips in this article to start your own garden today.…

Plenty of people all over the world want to learn what they can do to create a beautiful home with a unique landscaping aesthetic feel. Yet, a lot of people are hesitant as to where to start. Lucky for you, you don’t have to be one of those people. This article can help you learn how to transform your home’s landscape into an image of beauty.

While it may be tempting to have a solid cover installed over your out door space, it is a much better idea to install shade bars that are open. Less of the area will be covered, since there is open space, but it will allow more heat to escape so that you will be cooler.

You should know that prices fluctuate from one season to the other. You should compare prices for the materials you need and wait for the right moment to buy them. Buying in large quantities is also a good way to save money: do not be afraid to stock materials you know you will use later.

A drip-style irrigation system is a great investment. They are simple to install and continuously give your plants water. Dripping systems have less waste than hoses and sprinklers.

If you are tired of seeing your beloved plants trampled by visitors, consider adding a footpath. Use brick, stone or wood to create a path that extends well beyond the boundaries of the area you wish to protect. A well-defined, wide path makes it clear which areas are safe as well as, which should not be trodden upon.

Consider how your landscape will look all year long when you are planning it. Choose a variety of plants that will provide blossoms in each season of the year. Remember to add some evergreens to help your yard maintain a festive appearance throughout the winter. Researching plants is what will make your landscape attractive all year.

When planning a landscaping project for your house, be sure to look out for the products that will have a very little impact if they are of high or low quality. Use this opportunity to save a little bit of money and use it toward items that will be worth your while to spend more money on.

If you want to achieve your dreams with your landscaping plan, you might want to seek the consultation of a professional. The professional has done many landscaping jobs, and has the experience to see how natural features in your yard can be utilized to minimize cost, and enhance the appearance.

If you have drainage problems in your yard, fix them before you begin to plant. If the soil in your yard is too wet, your plants will fall victim to root rot quickly. This will result in dead plants and added expenses for you. If you take care of the problems first, you will save money in the long run.

With the information you just learned, you should feel a lot more confident about your home’s appearance. Even though nothing has physically changed with your home yet, you’re sure to have a lot of great ideas ready to be applied to your home. So get out there and get to improving your home’s landscape.…

There are many people who’d like to have their own organic garden, but not many take the time to actually create one. It seems like it would be complicated and a lot of of work to a novice. They are intimidated but don’t need to be. This article has some good ideas to help you reach your goal of creating a garden for your enjoyment, and without incurring too much difficulty.

Involve your children in gardening. You can provide a good learning experience that your children can appreciate the more they learn on how to grow healthy produce.

Plant strawberries for your children. Children love to snap up these sweet juicy fruits for themselves and will be much more willing to eat other foods you’ve planted as well.

Ward off certain diseases that plague plants with the use of aspirin. An aspirin and a half, dissolved in about two gallons of fresh water, is great for your plants. Next, coat the plant with the aspirin mixture by spraying it on the leaves. Spraying should be one time every three weeks.

After seeds have sprouted, they require less warmth than they did prior to sprouting. You should move your sprouted plants farther from the heat when they are past the sprouting stage. Take any plastic film off of your containers because they hold in heat and humidity. To know when it is time for this, keep a careful eye on your seeds.

Organic material piled three inches deep is an effective mulch in your flower gardens. Mulch will minimize weed growth and maximize nutrients and moisture. It will also increase the visual appeal of the flower beds.

Work properly in your garden. One of the biggest time wasters is not keeping track of your tools and having to look for them every time you need them. Prepare them all ahead of time and have them handy before you need to garden, and then put them back in their place when done. Get a tool belt if you need to, or a pair of pants with a lot of pockets.

Pine can make surprisingly great mulch. Some plants are more acidic, and prefer soil that contains higher acidic levels. Pine needles are an excellent form of mulch for these types of plants. Cover the plots with pine needles. As the pine needles decay, they’ll raise the soil’s acidity.

Your authenticity as an organic grower is solidified when you obtain the organic gardening certification. With this, you and your crops are credible and 100% legitimately organic. This is important for your business and to your customers. This should boost your sales while proving to your customers that they are getting healthy products.

Overall, a layer of mulch is beneficial for the soil. A couple of inches of mulch will protect what lies beneath it. On hot, dry days, mulch keeps the dirt underneath cool and moist. This protects and nourishes plant roots. This helps soil keep its moisture by reducing the rate of evaporation. Mulch is also great for controlling weed growth.

Once you know more about organic gardening, getting started should not be so intimidating. Apply the wisdom you have learned here to your home and yard, and you can enjoy pure wholesome foods in your kitchen in not time at all.…

Many people have gardens in their homes. Some of these gardens are floral based, containing flowers for decoration, and others are food based, with fruits and vegetables, grown for consumption. Growing a garden in your own home is simple and the gardening tips in this article, will help you get started.

Gardening can be a very rewarding practice. Not only can you improve the look of the outside of your home, but you can be proud of it as well. There are plenty of tools and things to use in gardening and this can be a very rewarding activity. You can improve not only your home but your neighborhood and quite possibly start saving on groceries by growing your own food!

Use a bar of soap to prevent dirt under your nails. Before you begin gardening, scrape your fingernails across a bar of soap. This will create a barrier that keeps the dirt out. When you are done gardening, the soap will wash out quickly and easily – leaving your nails sparkling clean.

Knowing the layout of your yard and what kind of soil you have can greatly improve your gardening experience. By knowing this, you can figure out what seeds will work with your current yard or if you need to create a different environment around your planting preferences. Different plants require different nutrients, so plan accordingly.

If you have plants that are tall, support them with stakes. This will prevent tall plants from drooping over when they are heavy with blooms, which can look very messy. Support climbing shrubs with a lattice to keep the rambling vines under control and to prevent them from invading another plant area.

If you want a patch of green in your garden, consider planting a ground cover instead of a lawn. Lawns require a lot of water and maintenance. On the other hand, a ground cover usually uses less water, and certain varieties discourage weeds from growing. Many varieties of ground cover have the green color comparable to a lawn. You can save time and money with a ground cover.

To kill off aphids on rose plants, spray them with a powdered milk and water mixture (1/3 cup powdered milk to one quart water). When the mixture is sprayed, the aphids get caught in the liquid and eventually die. Every few weeks spray down the roses with water to rinse off the mixture and reapply it if needed.

Turn a quiet corner of your garden into a romantic arbor. By using a store bought arbor or simply constructing one yourself out of a few rustic poles, you can create an arbor. Use a selection of old fashioned, heavily scented flowers to create an intimate atmosphere. Honeysuckle, climbing roses, jasmine and sweet peas are ideal. By adding seating, you can sit and enjoy the scent on a summer evening.

As stated before, many people have gardens in their homes. Some gardens are floral based and some are food based. You can easily grow a garden at your home using the tips from this article. Soon you’ll be able to smell fresh flowers and eat fresh fruits and vegetables.…

Simple changes can affect anyone’s life. Whether it’s in your diet, exercise routine or even taking time to de-stress, you will feel better afterward. The same goes for landscaping and using the tips in this article can be the first steps towards fixing the look of your home, starting on the outside.

Make sure you plan thoroughly before you begin landscaping. It is a great idea to sketch out your landscaping design when it’s still a plan, so you can get a good mental idea of what it is going to look like. Make notes of the plants, flowers, shrubs, etc. that you plan on using to improve your landscape.

Be sure to plan what your landscape before you buy. Try sketching out your landscape design on a piece of paper prior to actually planting and building. When you know exactly what materials you need and where you are going to be putting them, it can help you avoid wasting money.

As you’re paying attention to price, make sure you are considering quality just as closely. You don’t want to pay the highest price for your materials and plants. However, remember that with cheaper prices sometimes comes lesser quality and selection. Cut corners where you need to in order to offset other purchases you might need to make as well.

If you are using flowers in your landscaping plans, you should use both perennials and annuals. Perennials come in many beautiful options, but annuals ensure that you have color year round. If you live in a winter climate, you could even incorporate beautiful shrubs and flowers that bloom during that season.

Make your landscaping look more natural by using uneven spacing. Do not measure and separate all your plants equally. It is unnatural to see plants and flowers all lined up in a row. Contribute to a more organic appearance in your landscaping by scattering your plantings in a more erratic pattern.

Before choosing a type of grass for your yard, consult a local landscaper. There are many varieties of grass seed and sod, and some will do better than others in different areas of the country. Some grasses prefer heat, while others need a dormant cold period. If you do not choose the right variety, you will spend a lot of time trying to maintain your yard.

Sometimes, doing things in the least expensive way possible is not always best. Sometimes the quality of cheaper items is not worth the lower price tag because they break down more quickly. Although specialty stores are slightly more expensive, novices should use them so they can get the advice and high quality supplies they need to succeed.

Think outside of the box to help save yourself money, while not sacrificing quality. For instance, construction and demolition sites are good spots for finding bricks, and sometimes mulch as well. Botanical centers, and other places offer plant sales sometimes too. There are plenty of more options available to you if you plan.

One tip at a time is like taking one step at a time, so print out this article and tackle each item, one by one. This enables you to affect real change, while still not feeling overwhelmed by the work you have to put in, but only if you get to work today.…

If lush and vibrant plants growing in your personal garden are something that you aspire to, then a number of things need to be taken into consideration for you to reach that dream. While gardening is a lot of hard work, it’s a fun way to spend your free time. The following hints and tips can reduce the effort and increase the fun!

Choose the varieties of plants that will produce a higher yield. A lot of times a hybrid that will tolerate cold weather or disease will give you a higher output than heirlooms.

There are grass varieties, such as wheat grass or catnip, that will give your feline something to nibble on besides your garden. Additionally, use your cat’s keen sense of smell to your advantage. Citrus fruit peels and mothballs both smell horrible to cats, so put them on the soil near the plants your cat likes to eat.

Try dividing the irises. You can get more irises by dividing the overgrown clumps. Once the foliage has died off, lift out your bulbous irises. The bulbs split in your hand, then you replant them, and they will most likely flower next year. Rhizomes should be divided using a knife. You can split the Rhizomes production by cutting off thin portions from the exterior and discarding the remaining insides. Make sure that every cutting contains a viable offshoot. Replant your new rhizome pieces as soon as you have finished the cuttings.

A good green garden should start from seeds and not plants. Starting from seed is far less harsh on the environment than using plants you buy at the nursery. The problem is those plastic trays which end up in landfills and are not generally recycled. Plants in organic packagingn or seeds sown in your garden, are fine .

Place a few inches of organically based mulch around your vegetable plants. Mulch has a nice moisturizing effect on the soil it’s spread over. An added benefit is that it also inhibits weed growth. This will save you a ton of time and work.

Spray fragrances such as old perfume or aftershave on grass around your garden to help keep your dog away from the plants. This will help mask the scents that attract your dog, and will make your garden a less interesting place for your pet to be.

Heather can bring you beneficial insects. Bees are naturally attracted to heather for its nectar. Spiders, ground beetles, and other useful insects spend time in undisturbed heather beds. With this in mind, be sure to prune your heather while wearing gardening gloves.

Make sure you protect your knees well while you are gardening. Many people experience back pain and stiffness from bending over and working in the garden for extended amounts of time. You should kneel while tending to your plants for the sake of reducing stress to your spine. Use a pad to kneel upon and protect your knees from possible pain.

With these tips, you’re better equipped to grow the most beautiful garden you can imagine. In learning how to create your dream garden, you’ll also be growing as a person. That’s because learning how to nurture your plants will not only help you reach the goal of having a great garden, but it will help you learn to nurture yourself.…

Organic gardening may provide you with a great way to relax and enjoy your time, or it can be quite a nonproductive hassle. The following collection of tips will help you to become a savy organic gardener.

Shoveling clay soil is tiresome since clay is hard, and it can also stick to your shovel for twice the difficulty. Get better results in clay by rubbing car wax or floor wax onto the shovel, then buff off and dig. This will both make the clay fall off of the surface, and prevent the surface from rusting.

Plant perennials that are slug-proof. Snails and slugs can destroy plants in just one night. Young plants with susceptible leaves are favorite meals for slugs, including those with smoother or thinner leaves. Perennials that are unappetizing in taste, or that have hardened and hairy leaves, are not a favorite of slugs or snails. Some of examples of these are achillea, heuchera, campanula, helleborus, and euphorbia.

Brighten up your flower beds with annuals and biennials. You can use biennial and annual flowers to brighten the bed, and let you change how it looks. You can use them between the gaps in shrubs and perennials where there is plenty of sun. Attention-getting options exist such as sunflowers and petunias.

Use gardening to relax. There are a variety of ways to find peace and relaxation on a personal level. Gardening is one of the easiest ways to attain this. Gardening does not require a lot of dollars to start, and yields tremendous benefits. The biggest perk of gardening is the sense of satisfaction you get from what you grow with your own two hands.

For visual interest, make one plant a focal point of your garden. A focal point, in a strong garden design, will attract eyes and hold them there. It can be anything, but oftentimes a plant that stands out from its neighbors will do the trick.

Avoid sun damage by dressing appropriately whenever you will be gardening in the sun. Wear hats and sunglasses, and make use of sunscreen. By protecting yourself from the sun’s rays, you lower your risk of getting sunburns or skin cancer.

If you want to draw advantageous insects to your garden, plant some heather. Bees are attracted to heather, and they can bring a source of nectar early in the spring. Because it is usually left alone, heather beds can become a home for spiders, beetles and other insects. Keep this in mind and always wear gloves when you prune your heather!

Ward off certain diseases that plague plants with the use of aspirin. Your plants can benefit from a solution you can make by dissolving one and one-half aspirins into a couple of gallons of water. Next, coat the plant with the aspirin mixture by spraying it on the leaves. The process can be repeated every three weeks or so.

As illustrated above, there is more to becoming a successful organic gardener than most people first imagine. It takes effort and a willingness to learn. It is rewarding for those with patience, supplying healthy food and an attractive addition to the home. Follow the tips and you can increase your gardening skills.…